Air deodorization device having a detachable cartridge member

Abstract

The present invention relates to air deodorizing devices for removing malodor from the air. Such devices are useful for example for storing and preserving food in closed compartments such as refrigerators. The air deodorizing device of the present invention comprises a cartridge member and an air moving member whereby the cartridge member is detachable from the device.

1. An air deodorizing device having an air flow path from an air inlet to an air outlet, said deodorizing device comprising:
 a) a cartridge member detachable from a portion of said deodorizing device, said cartridge member comprising a filter member having an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein said cartridge member is adapted to be arranged with respect to said portion of said deodorizing device such that said filter member comes into contact with the air flowing along said air flow path of said deodorizing device; and  
 b) an air moving member for moving air along said air flow path, said air moving member comprising a fan connected to an electric motor wherein said electric motor is powered by a source of electricity and wherein said air moving member is adapted to displace at least 100 ml of air per second through the air inlet of said deodorizing device, and wherein said cartridge member is adapted to be positioned above said air moving member when said air moving member moves air along said air flow path and wherein a surface topology of parts of said cartridge member and said air moving member match each other, wherein said surface topology comprises a hemispherical design.  
 
   
   
     2. A refrigerator air deodorizing device according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
     3. The air deodorizing device according to  claim 1  wherein said cartridge member is directly accessible from the outside of said deodorizing device. 
   
   
     4. The air deodorizing device according to  claim 1  wherein said filter member comprises activated carbon. 
   
   
     5. The air deodorizing device according to  claim 4  wherein said activated carbon is supported on a support member, said support member comprising a foam, a woven, or a nonwoven web material. 
   
   
     6. The air deodorizing device according to  claim 5  wherein said activated carbon is supported on a polyurethane foam and has a carbon density of from 0.01 to 0.3 grams per cm 3 . 
   
   
     7. The air deodorizing device according to  claim 4  wherein said filter member comprises between 5 and 30 grams of activated carbon. 
   
   
     8. The air deodorizing device of  claim 1  wherein said cartridge member is adapted only to be held in place with respect to said air moving member by gravitational forces. 
   
   
     9. An air deodorizing device having an air flow path from an air inlet to an air outlet, said deodorizing device comprising:
 a) a cartridge member detachable from a portion of said deodorizing device, said cartridge member comprising a filter member having an air inlet and an air outlet, said cartridge member being arranged within an area of said deodorizing device such that said filter member comes into contact with the air flowing along said air flow path of said deodorizing device; and  
 b) an air moving member for moving air along said air flow path, said air moving member comprising a fan connected to an electric motor wherein said electric motor is powered by a source of electricity and wherein said air moving member is adapted to displace at least 100 ml of air per second through the air inlet of said deodorizing device and wherein a surface topology of parts of said cartridge member and said air moving member match each other, wherein said surface topology comprises a hemispherical design.  
 
   
   
     10. The air deodorizing device according to  claim 9  wherein said source of electricity is a battery, wherein said battery is located within said cartridge member and wherein said battery and said filter member have substantially equal lifetimes. 
   
   
     11. The air deodorizing device according to  claim 9  wherein said filter member is located between the air inlet of said deodorizing device and said air moving member such that substantially all the air aspired by said air moving member is forced to flow through said filter member along said air flow path. 
   
   
     12. The air deodorizing device of  claim 9 , wherein only a single air path connection exists between the said filter member and said air moving member wherein substantially all air aspired by said air moving member is forced to flow through said filter member before it penetrates an inlet of said air moving member. 
   
   
     13. The air deodorizing device of  claim 9 , wherein said air inlet of said cartridge member is unitary with said air inlet of said air deodorizing device wherein substantially all air aspired by said air moving member is forced so flow through said filter member before it penetrates an inlet of said air moving member. 
   
   
     14. An air deodorizing device having an air flow path from an air inlet to an air outlet, said deodorizing device comprising:
 a) a cartridge member detachable from a portion of said deodorizing device, said cartridge member comprising a filter member having an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein said cartridge member is adapted to be arranged with respect to said portion of said deodorizing device such that said filter member comes into contact with the air flowing along said air flaw path of said deodorizing device; and  
 b) an air moving member for moving air along said air flow path, said air moving member comprising a fan connected to an electric motor wherein said electric motor is powered by a source of electricity and wherein said air moving member is adapted to displace at least 100 ml of air per second through the air inlet of said deodorizing device,  
 wherein interfacing parts of said cartridge member and said air moving member include a hemispherical surface topology that match each other and wherein the cartridge member is adapted to rest above the air moving member such that the cartridge member is only held In place by gravitational forces.  
 
   
   
     15. The air deodorizing device according to  claim 14  wherein said cartridge member is directly accessible from the outside of said deodorizing device. 
   
   
     16. The air deodorizing device according to  claim 14  wherein said filter member comprises activated carbon. 
   
   
     17. The air deodorizing device according to  claim 16  wherein said activated carbon is supported on a support member, said support member comprising a foam, a woven, or a nonwoven web material. 
   
   
     18. The air deodorizing device according to  claim 17  wherein said activated carbon is supported on a polyurethane foam and has a carbon density of from 0.01 to 0.3 grams per cm 3 . 
   
   
     19. The air deodorizing device according to  claim 16  wherein said filter member comprises between 5 and 30 grams of activated carbon.